$49.99

4-Disc DVD Set

$129.90

Book and DVD Set

List Price $179.89Your Price $165.50

*StewMAX Members receive 50% off the price of select books, plans and DVDs for the life of their membership. Members also get a special offer each month that may include tools, parts or supplies.
**StewMAX Members receive FREE standard shipping on all orders for the life of their membership.

Archtop Guitar Design and Construction

About This Item

Ever want to make an archtop guitar? Now you can learn from a true master, Bob Benedetto, renowned jazz guitar craftsman. This is the definitive set on carved-top guitarmaking.

SAVE when you order the Book and DVD Set!

"I know of no other work offering comprehensive step by step coverage of the making of an acoustic jazz guitar." —George Gruhn

"This book is for everyone who loves woodworking, loves guitars, appreciates artistry, and believes that organic materials like spruce, maple and ebony can only achieve their highest function through the hands of a craftsman." —Howard Paul

"I can think of no one more knowledgeable and qualified to share his years of expertise than master luthier Robert Benedetto." —Dick Boak

THE definitive book on carved-top guitarmaking—a best seller!
Learn about wood selection, tap-tuning and plate graduation; tools and fixtures; bracing; and finishing techniques. Each step in construction is fully described, with detailed illustrations and fine photography (special color photos of Bob's guitars, too).

New 2nd edition includes new illustrations and photos, updated information on neck reinforcements and side bending, plus a brand new 24-page color section. Bob now includes scaled-down drawings which can be enlarged to full-sized working pattern for the body outline, arching templates, plus top and back carving contour maps. 298 pages, softcover—including 24 color pages and 4 tear-outs.

Contents in brief
Wood selection
Making the body mold
Carving the top and back plates
Cutting F-holes
Top bracing and side bending
Neckblock and tailblock construction
Gluing the back to the top and sides
Cutting the mortise
Binding the body
Scraping the recurve
Making and fitting the neck
Fret dressing
Fitting the nut
Finishing
The fittings: tailpiece, bridge, fingerrest, truss rod cover and tuners
Final setup

4-Disc DVD Set—over 9 hours of instruction from a master!
The classroom format begins with wood selection, tap-tuning and handcarving of the plates. F-holes and unique archtop bracings are examined. Traditional tools and fixtures are demonstrated alongside modern machinery. Side bending, binding, neck construction, inlaying, fretting, finishing and setup are detailed.

Bonus material! This DVD edition includes Focusing On Bridges and Tailpieces, Bob's 80-minute examination of archtop guitar bridge and tailpiece design, and its effect on playability and sound.

This series was edited by Ed Benson, publisher of Just Jazz Guitar magazine.

These DVDs are not "region-specific," and are intended for worldwide use.

Much appreciated!

I am grateful to any tradesman willing to share their knowledge. A lot of people may give you a fraction of their knowledge, not revealing all, in fear of losing business to another. Bob explains it all in this book & video, in a simple form, the best that he can explain in the time allotted. He is simple & straightforward & tells it the way it is. He explains his beliefs on tone & playability from his experience as a builder, not from unproven beliefs that have been passed down with no real merit from other “builders”...meaning, you can make a beautiful, elite, playing & sounding instrument out of woods found at a local hardware store, as long as you follow the correct procedures. I have been building electric guitars for about 7 years now, & still consider myself to be a novice. I do well, but will never stop the pursuit of learning from others. I don’t believe in a “master” level, because you will never stop learning, if your mind is open to it. I’m glad Bob is receiving the recognition he deserves & especially glad that he’s been able to make a successful living at doing what he loves & was willing to share a part of it with us!

Archtop

Good reference source

I purchased this edition hoping that some small points might be covered in the 2nd edition that won't covered in the first. The added content is appreciate, but the black and white photos are reprinted with more contrast and harder to see some of the detail as compared to the original versions photos.

Excellent DVD and book

These days it is not difficult to get information on how to build an arch top guitar. The internet abounds with it and classes can easily be had. While I wouldn't suggest building a guitar with this as your only reference I would also not suggest building one without it. I found the DVD especially helpful and watching the master handling the wood and tools and talking about what he was doing makes the book nearly irrelevant.

Great Title

I purchased the book and DVD set, and I very surprised about the great quality of information I have found compared to price. Where I live is almost impossible to get any information about archtop guitar construction if you are a self teaching person, and this is a great source of information. I highly recommend it.